Bed attachment.



w. G. Busse.

B'ED ATTACHMENT. JUNE I1. ISII. IIEIIEWED DEC. 27.19I5.

v APPLICATION FILE .K

1 ,1 92,385. Patented July 25, 41916. A 3 SHEETS-'SHEET I.

w. s. BussE. `BED ATTACHMENT. y APPLICATION FILED JUNE I?, I9II. VIIENEWEI) DIIC. 27. I9I5. n 1 ,1 92,385. Patented July 25, 1,916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. G. BUSS'E.

BED ATTACHMENT. APPLICATION FILED IuIIE I7, 191|. RENEwED oec. 21,19'5.

1 ,1 912,385. e Patented July 25,v 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Application led .Tune 17, 1911, Serial No. 633,704. Renewed December 27, 1915.

WILLIAM Gr. BUSSE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

BED ATTACHMENT.

To all fwwm t may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM G. Bussn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bed Attachments, of which the following is av specification.

This invention relates to collapsible and slidable bed attachments, adapted to be disposed in folded condition beneath a bed or 5to be slid out and erected at the side of the Jed.

The construction of the attachment adapts it particularly for use as a crib. Such a bed-attached crib is of great value both for the occupants of small apartments and for those parents who prefer to have the child in the same room at night.

An attachable crib made in accordance with my invention is light, cheap and strong in construction, may be instantlyT drawn out from under the bed and erected, or collapsed and'pushed back, is strong and rigid when erected, and compact and entirely concealed beneath the bed when stowed away.

The device is simple in operation and has no parts liable to get out of order.

It is of such simple and strong construction that it may, even when in use, be supported entirely by the bed, anything in the nature of a floor support being unnecessary.

Another object of the invention is to enable the supporting and guiding means of the attachment to be secured to the side rails of the bed at any point along the latter. Thus, the user may elect whether the attachment shall be nearer the head or thefoct of the bed, and it is unnecessary to prepare the bed-rails in any manner forthe attachment of the device.

lVhile the nature of the device is particularly suitable for a crib, it may be made ofapproximately the same length as the bed,`

so that when erected it will constitute a lateral extension of the bed. Thus, a single bed. may be converted into a double or threequarter bed and vice-versa, either for emergencies or so that space may be economized when the bed is not in use.

The device may also be so formed as to constitute a bed-attached table, useful in case of sickness, the general principles of construction being the same as in the other case.

Other uses of the device will suggest themselves.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1916.

Serial No. 68,946.

through the attachment when erected at the side of the bed; Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section through the attachment collapsed; Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating an embodiment of the means for securing the guide-rails, at any point along the side rails of the bed; and Fig. 7 is a perspective end view showing a form of the attachment in which the horizontal member is a table top.

Guiding and supporting means, prefer'- ably in the nature o-f a pair of transverse track rails l0, are secured beneath any ordinary bed. In the preferred construction means are provided for securing these tracks to the ordinary side rails 11 of the bed at any point alongthe latter. To this end the track rails are provided with clamping structures adapted to embrace and grip the hori- Zontal flanges of the bed rails without penetrating the latter. In the particular construction illustrated, a pair of upstanding posts or brackets 12 are fixed to each track rail, one near each end thereof, and each bracket is provided with a slot 13 adapted to receive the horizontal flange of the adjacent bed rail 11. A set screw 14 threaded into the top of each bracket is adapted to bear at its lower end against said liange, so that the bracket is clamped to the rail.

The slidable and collapsible structure is supported and guided by the foregoing means. 15 is a bottom frame supaportcd by the 'track rails and slidable thereon in and out below the bed. Preferably the track rails are in the nature of channel bars, having their channels on their inner or opposed sides; and the end pieces 16 of the frame are preferably provided with rollers or wheels 17 traveling in these channels. In the particular construction of bottom frame illustrated, there are, in addition to the end pieces 16,V an outer side piece 18, an intermediate cross-piece 19 parallel to 18, a brace or rod 20 connecting the inner ends of the end pieces, and diagonal braces 2O2L for further strengthening the frame. The length of the end pieces 16 is approximately equal 50, which limit the extent to which the bot-y tom frame may be drawn out, thus preventing the rollers clearing the channels in the tracks.

The collapsible parts are carried by the outer part of the bottom frame; that is to say, that portion of the illustrated construction bounded by the end pieces 1G, the side piece 1S, and the cross-piece 19.

End frames 21 are pivotally supported on the bottom frame 15, so as either to stand erect or to fold down therewith. In the particular construction shown, each end frame comprises side pieces 22 and a top bar 23. In addition, each end frame may have a cross piece 24 and rods 25 connecting the same'with the top bar. rThe ends of the top bars 23 are preferably inturned, as indicated at 26, so as to take over the outer sides of the horizontal member 27 or 27, hereinafter described, when the device is folded. The side pieces 22 are pivoted at their lower ends, as shown at 28, to the side piece 18 and crosspiece 19 of the bottom frame, at the inner sides thereof.

Slotted braces 29 are preferably provided,

for preventing the end frames 21 from being swung past perpendicular when these frames are erected and for contributing to the steadiness of the device. 'Ihe braces are shown pivoted at one end, at 30, to the end frames, and with their slots receiving pins or projections 31 on the side piece 18 and cross-V piece 19 of the bottom frame.

In accordance with the invention, the horizontal member 27, shown in Figs. 1 to 5, or the horizontal member 27 a, shown in Fig. 7, is raised and lowered, as well as supported, by and between the foldable end frames 21. rl`he specic construction may be widely varied. In the simplest embodiment of the invention the horizontal member has longitudinal slots 32 which receive pins, rollers or projections 33 on the end frames. The form of homrizontal member 27 is a mattress frame. It" is ay rectangular frame having the slots 32 formed in its side pieces. The springs are preferably formed by a fiat lattice-work 341 of strips of springy metal, and marginal coil or tension springs 35 connecting the same with the frame 27. This form of spring structure is very li ght and compact.

The attachment shown in Figs. 1 to 5, provided with such a mattress frame, constitutes a.

foldable crib or bed extension. If the device is materially shorter than the bed it is a crib. If made approximately as long as the bed, it will constitute an extension of the bed.- The mattress frame is preferably soV connected to the end frames 21, that the bedclothing when made up on the bed and on the crib or bed-extension, will be at the same level.

It will be obvious that the crib when erected may be made into a table by simply laying a suitable board on the mattress frame.

Fig. 7, however, shows how a table top 27a may be substituted for the mattress frame, being supported and operated by the end frames 21 in exactly the same manner. The slots 32 are here formed in suitable side bars or fianges on the table top. Such table top may be connected to the end frames so as to be positioned somewhat above the bed when the device is erected.

In any construction, the horizontal member, such as 27 or 27, is preferably directly connected to the end frames 21, as shown. The mattress frame is raised by the erecting of the end frames and lowered approximately into or below the plane of the bottom frame 15 by the swinging of the end frames down to horizontal position, the projections 33 moving in the slots 32 during these operations. The projections 33 preferably contact with the outer ends of the slots when the device is erected, so that the horizontal member in effect constitutes a tension connection or brace between the end frames when the device is in use.

Preferably the horizontal member 27 or 22'a is embraced between the side pieces 22 of the end frames 21, and the projections 33 are on the inner sides of these pieces.

For the crib construction, I provide a foldable outer side frame or gate 340, which is hinged at its bottom to the outerV side piece of the mattress frame 27, so as to fold down thereon. In accordance with the invention this side gate locks with and between the end frames 21 when the device is erected, so as to constitute a thrust connection between the end frames. I preferably form interengaging snap lock portions on the end frames and side gate. In the simplest construction the ends of the top bar 3500i! the side gate are formed with notches 8G which receive the' edges of rthe side pieces 22 of the end frames. The length of this top bar is such that the end frames have to spring apart to permit the notches 3G to be forced between the opposed edges of the side pieces 22. That is to say, the end frames are held against bodily outward movement both by the mattress frame 27 and by the braces 29, so that in order to force -the side gate into erect, locking position, it is necessary to vspring the upper Y, parts of the yend yframes outward against their tension.

When the table top 27a is employed, and also ,when the mattress frame is used and the device isa full length bed-extension, I prefer to dispense with the side gat-e 3110. In such case I provide sliding braces between the end frames 21 and the bottom,

lll

frame 15, for locking the end frames in their upright position, and, consequently, the mattress frame 27 or table top 27a in raised position. A suitable form of such braces isv shown at 37. They are preferably pivoted, as at 38, to the side pieces 22 of the end frames, and cooperate with pins or projections 39 on the outer side piece 18 and the cross-piece 19 of the bottom frame. IThey are provided with hook or transverselyslotted ends 40, which take over these pins when the end frames 21 are erected. Gravity may be relied on to cause the hook ends to seat over the pins. Preferably, there are two of these hooks for each end frame 21, one at each side thereof. 1n order to permit ready disengagement of the hooks from the pins I provide handle means at the upper ends of the braces, this means being preferably common to the two braces of each pair. 1n the particular construction illustrated, the braces have rear extensions 41 projecting beyond their pivots and beyond the end frames. A rod or bar 42 connects the eX- tensions of each pair, outside of the end frame, so that depression of the bar lifts both hook ends of the braces off the pins 39. The rod or bar 42 is suliciently offset from the longitudinal axes of the braces to insure that it will not interfere with the end frame when the device is collapsed. By the use of these braces the end frames are securely locked against moving in either direction when they have been swung to upright position.

The form of device shown in Figs. 1 to 5 is operated in the following manner. To

erect, the top bars 23 of the end frames 21 are grasped, and the frames swung upward to vertical position. This operation also raises the mattress frame 27 up from the bottom frame 15. The side gate 340 is now swung up from the mattress frame to vertical position, snapping into locking engagement with the end frames 21. To collapse, the side gate is lirst swung inward and downward over the mattress frame. The bed-clothing may be left on the mattress frame, so that the side gate rests on top of the bed-clothes. rlhe end frames are now swung down over the side gate, which operation also lowers the mattress frame. All the frames are now lying flat with a combined depth of but a few inches. The collapsed structure may now be slid under the bed, where it is completely concealed.

The erection of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 7 simply requires that the end frames be grasped and swung upward. The braces 37 automatically lock and hold the end frames in vertical position, the end frames, in turn, holding the member 27 n raised. To collapse, the rods 42 are depressed, thus lifting the latch ends of the f' braces out of engagement with the pins 39,

.ported in a variety of ways.

and the end frames, thus released, are swung inward and downward; this act lowering the member 27a, so that all the parts lie close together and substantially horizontal. The collapsed structure may then be pushed under the bed.

When the device is erected at the side of the bed it is supported entirely by the latter, none of its weight being applied directly to the floor.

In the preferred construction, the end frames 21 are proportioned and arranged to be received within the area of the rectangular frame portion of the bottom frame formed by the end pieces 1G, the outer side piece 18 and the cross-piece' 19. Further, the horizontal member 27, or 27a is proportioned and arranged to be embraced by the side pieces 22 of the end frames. 1n this way very compact folding is secured.

T.Vhen the device is collapsed the mattress frame or table tcp, the end frame, and the side gate or frame (if used) may be supln the particular construction illustrated, the horizontal member'27 or 27a and the end frames 21 descend until the cross-pieces 24 contact with the top of the horizontal member. This brevents the horizontal member and the end frames from descending farther. As shown, the parts may be so arranged that the horizontal member is lowered through the bottom frame to some distance below the same, before the parts block each other from further movement. A thickness of bedclothes folded in the crib may be accommodated by the mattress-supporting spring fabric 34 yielding downward under the weight of the superincumbent parts.

lVhile it is desirable as herein described to mount the bottom frame of the crib slidably in tracks attached to the bed, it will be understood that this is not in all instances essential, since the crib can obviously be removed from the tracks and placed on the floor if desired, without affecting the novel construction of the crib itself and the manner of collapsing and opening the same.

What 1 claim as new is:

1. A bed attachment comprising tracks adapted to be secured transversely beneath a bed, and a collapsible and slidable structure adapted to be disposed beneath the bed or to be erected at the side thereof, said structure comprising a bottom frame slidable on said tracks, foldable end frames pivoted to said bottom frame, and a horizontal member connected between said end frames so as to be raised and lowered thereby.

2. 1n a bed attachment, the combination o with guides adapted to be secured transversely beneath a bed and a bottom frame slidable on said guides in `and out beneath the bed, of foldable end frames pivoted to said bottom frame, and a horizontal member having slidable engagement with said end frames so as to be lowered and raised and supported thereby.

3. In abed attachment, the combination with guides adapted to be secured transversely beneath a bed and a bottom frame slidable in and out onsaid guides, of end frames pivoted to said bottom frameV so as to fold down, a horizontal member having longitudinal slots, and yprojections, on said end frames entering said slots in the horizontal member whereby the latteris raised and lowered by the end frames. Y

4. A bed attachment Comprising guiding and supporting means adapted to be secured beneath a bed, a bottom frame slidable in and out on said means, oldable end frames having their side pieces pivoted to said bottom frame, a horizontal member embraced by the side pieces of said end frames and having longitudinal slots at its sides, and projections carried by said side pieces and entering said slots whereby the horizontal member is raised and lowered bythe end frames.

5. A bed attachment comprising guiding and supporting means adapted to be secured beneath a bed, a bottom frame slidable in and out beneath the bed on said means, end

frames pivoted to said bottom frame, being foldable toward each other and adapted to be swung upward away from eaeh other, a horizontal member connected with said end frames so as to be raised and lowered by thev end frames jointly, and a foldable outer side frame mounted to swing about an axis at right angles to the axes of pivoting of said end frames.

G. A. collapsible crib comprising a bottom frame, end frames pivoted to said bottom frame, being oldable toward ea'eh other and adapted to be swung upward away from eaeh other, a mattress frame connected with both said end fra-mes so as to be raised and lowered by the end frames jointly, and a foldable side frame Carried by the vertically movable mattress frame and hinged thereto so as to fold inward over the mattress frame, the said side and vend vtrames when erected cooperating to Yform an inolosure above the mattress frame.

ln witness whereof I have signed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

VVILLAM G. Witnesses B. WV. CoULDooK, J. F. BRANDENBURG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.y 

